Gas-main stopper.



Patented Dec. 23, I902.

R. D. LEECH.

GAS MAIN STOPPER.

(Application filed Apr. 9, 1902.}

(No Model.)

TNE uonms PETERS cc, pumo urum WASHKNGYQN, u. n.

ROBERT D. LEECH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAS IVlAlN STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,641, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed April 9, 1902. Serial No. 102,004. (No model.)

To all 1072 0721, it may concern:

Be it known that LROBERT D. LEECH, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Bronx, in the county of 'Westchester and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Gas-Main Stoppers, of which the following is a specification.

In extending gas-mains and repairing the same it is usual to employa stopper inserted into the main to close oi the escape of gas and at the same time provide for consumption back of the place of extension or repair. These stoppers are usually inserted through a hole made in the pipe, and those heretofore employed have been of expansible construction, have been liable to leak gas, to get out of order and to break, and were not of lasting character.

In carrying out my invention I employ two semicircular rods joined into a ring by flexible material. Each rod has a stem prolongation from one end and a handle part at right angles to the stem. A diaphragm of flexible material is secured to the ring of flexible material surrounding the semicircular rods, and I provide a slidable wedge-block upon the stems, the function of which is to hold the stopper in place in the opening in the pipe after the same is inserted.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation representing my improvement and a crosssection of a gas main or pipe. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the stopper structure and a partial longitudinal section of the gas main or pipe. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan representing the pipe at the opening, the stopper, and the slidable wedge in the position of use. Fig. 4 is a side elevation; Fig. 5, an edge elevation of my improved stopper in a folded condition, and Fig. 6 is a cross-section representing a modified form of the invention.

a I) represent semicircular rods, a b stems formed as prolongations from one end of the semicircular rods, and a b handles at right angles to the stem portions.

0 is a flexible-material tube inclosing the semicircular rods (1 Z) and put on the same in any desired manner, so that the flexible-material tube is continuous at the free ends of the semicircular rods to b and past the points the inner surface thereof.

of union of the semicircular rods a b and the stems a, b.

02 represents a leather covering surrounding theflexible-material tube 0, the meeting edges of which are in the central plane of the ring of flexible material, and e is a flexible diaphragm of circular form filling the area bounded by the semicircular rods a b and their flexible covering and secured all around the edge between and to the meeting edges of the leather covering (1. This diaphragm is usually of a fabric and in use is preferably saturated with oil, so as to prevent the gas passing through the interstices thereof, and so escaping.

f represents a Wedge-block, of metal, with an offset perforated for the reception of the stems a b of the stopper.

f is a set-screw extending through the outer end of the wedge-block and adapted to bear simultaneously and equally upon the stems a b.

g is a gas pipe or main, and 2 indicates the opening formed therein. It is of course to be understood that these stoppers are to be made of an extreme diameter closely agreeing with the internal diameter of the gas pipe or main.

The stopper to be inserted in the gas pipe or main is folded into the form shown in Fig. 4 by bringing the handle portions a b parallel with one another, consequently bringing the semicircular rods a b parallel with one another, as shown in Fig. 4, and temporarily straining the flexible material at the joint. In this folded condition the stopper is gradually and progressively passed through the opening in the pipe, it being apparent from the drawings that the measurements of the folded portion are less than the diameter of the opening in the pipe. WVhen' the semicircular rods and flexible covering are ontirely within the pipe, they are opened out, so that the parts are in the same plane as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,. in which form they fully fillthe pipe, bearing all aroundupon In this position the edge of thering of flexible material adjacent to the stems a I) is brought against the opening at one sidename1y, the side'against the supply of gasand the wedge-blockis then moved down the stems and the advancing end passed into the opening until the outer edge of the block bears against the opposite edge of the opening to firmly hold the edge of the ring of flexible material against the edge of the opening. This position is shown in Fig. 3, and in such position the set-screw f is clamped to place against the stems a b. The diaphragm e, of flexible material, is sufficiently full to permit a concave form, as in Fig. 2, under a slight pressure of gas, and this fullness assists in conforming the diaphragm to the contourof the semicircular rods in the folded condition of Figs. 4 and 5,While the stopper is being inserted into or withdrawn from the pipe.

It will be noticed from the drawings that there is a degree of freedom of the stems a b in the opening through which they pass in the offset part of the wedge-block f. This is essential in connecting the bent rods to the wedge-block, but forms no necessary part of the invention.

I have shown and prefer to employ a curved wire 3, extending centrally across and generally conforming to the curved flexible diaphragm e and secured thereto at intervals by sewing-threads, loops of fabric, or in other similar convenient manner, (see Fig. 2,) the object of which is to assist or compel the fabric diaphragm to fold with the other parts of the stopper when brought into the position, Fig. 4, for entrance into the pipe or main.

In the modified form of the invention, Fig.

7 6, I have shown the semicircular rod 19' of rectangular form in cross-section, with flexible material 0 against the outer surface or periphery thereof and the leather covering d extending around said parts and the flexible diaphragm e as secured to the leather covering, as hereinbefore described. This structure provides the necessary peripheral elasticity for making a tight joint in contact with the inner surface of the pipe or main.

While I have hereinbefore described the device of my invention as especially applicable for closing off gas in a gas main or pipe, it is obvious that the same may be employed to close off the flow of any material in a pipe or main, and especially so where there is only a small amount of pressure that the stopper is called upon to stand.

I claim as my invention- 1. A stopper for a pipe or main, comprising semicircular rods, a stem and handle extension to each rod, a ring of flexible material surrounding the semicircular portions of the rods, a flexible diaphragm connected to the ring of flexible material, and a wedge-block movable longitudinally upon the rods for clamping the stopper in position, substantially as set forth.

2. A stopper for a pipe or main, comprising two semicircular rods each having a stem and handle prolongation from one end, a ring of flexible material surrounding and inclosing the semicircular rods, a diaphragm of flexible material loosely filling the central opening within the ring of flexible material and secured thereto, and a wedge-block of metal slidable'upon the stems of the stopper structure andadapted to locate and hold the same when in position, substantially as set forth.

3. A stopper for a pipe or main, comprising two semicircular rods, each having a stem and handle prolongation from one end, and normally occupying a position in opposition to one another, a ring of flexible material surrounding the semicircular rods and integrally extending past their free ends, and the points of union of the rods with the stems, a covering of leather surrounding the flexible material, a flexible diaphragm of circular form connected at its edge to and between the meeting edges of the leather covering and occupying a position Within the ring of flexible material, and a wedge-block slidable upon the stems of the stopper and a clampingscrew connected thereto, substantially as set forth.

at. A stopper for a pipe or main, comprising a ring of flexible material, a flexible diaphragm within and filling the opening in the ring and connected thereto, a divided core of rigid material within the flexible ring, normally held by the ring in a flat plane, means for applying tension to said rigid parts to bend the ring of flexible material into semicircular form for insertion into and removal from a main or pipe through an opening provided therein for such purpose, substantially tending around the semicircular rods and integrally extending past their free ends, a covering of leather surrounding the flexible material, a flexible diaphragm of circular form connected at its edge to and between the meeting edges of the leather covering and occupying a position within the ring of flexible material, and a wedge-block slidable upon the stems of the stopper and a clamping-screw connected thereto, substantially as set forth.

6. A stopper for a pipe or main, comprising a ring of flexible material, a flexible diaphragm within and filling the opening in the ring and connected thereto, a divided core of rigid material within the flexible ring, normally held by the ring in a fiat plane, means for applying tension to said rigid parts to bend the ring of flexible material into semicircular form for insertion into and removal from a main or pipe through an opening provided therein for such purpose, and a wire corresponding in contour with the flexible diaphragm and secured thereto upon the concave side thereof, substantially as set forth.

7. A stopper for a pipe or main,comprising two semicircular rods each having a stem and handle prolongation from one end, a ring IIO of flexible material extending around the stopper structure and adapted to locate and to semicircular rods, a covering of leather inhold the same when in position, substantially closing the ring of flexible material and the as set forth.

semicircular rode, a diaphragm of flexible Signed by me this 1st day of April, 1902. material loosely filling the central opening within the ring of flexible material and sei ROBT LEEOH' cured at its edge to and between the meeting \Vitnesses:

edges of the leather covering, and a wedge- I GEO. T. PINCKNEY,

block of metal slidable upon the stems of the BERTHA M. ALLEN. 

